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Special Libraries, 1925 Special Libraries, 1920s
4-1-1925
Special Libraries, April 1925
Special Libraries Association
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Recommended Citation Special Libraries Association, "Special Libraries, April 1925" (1925). Special Libraries, 1925. 4. https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1925/4
This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Libraries, 1920s at SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Special Libraries, 1925 by an authorized administrator of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Vol. 16 April, 1925 No. 4
Sixteenth ANNUAL CONVENTION Swampscott, Massachusetts June 24, 25, 26, 1925
New Ocean House, Swampscott
May Issue Insurance Contents
ARTICLES . Function of a Special Bank Library. By Frederic H. Curtiss ...... 107 Research Among Trade Associations ...... 1 1 7 Statistical Library a Necessity. By A. Y. Barrow...... 1 10 Use of the Library by the Engineer. By Dana M. Wood... 1 12 Value of Our Library. By George A. Bland ...... 1 I I World Biographical Department. By James W. Wells..... 120
--NOTES Architect's Library ...... 130 Child Welfare Library ...... 119 Membership Committee ...... 1 25 Technology Group ...... 125
. DEPARTMENTS. EDITORIALS Associations ...... 1 28 Advertising Support ...... 1 22 Decennial of the New As Others See Us ...... 122 York Special Libraries Ass'n...... 1 26 CONVENTION Events and Publications... 130 Annual Convention ...... 123 Personal Notes ...... 13 1 Hotel Rates ...... 12 1 Science and Technology... 124
Published Monthly Except August and September by THE SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION
Special Libraries Editorial office, State Library, Providence, R. I. Publishmg office, 958 University Ave., New York City. Treasurer's office, 195 Broadway. New York City. All payments should be made to Miss Gertrude D. Peterk~n,Treasurer, C/O American Telephone & Telegraph Co.. New York City.
Enhd 84 aecoud clus matter December 17. 1925 at tho Post Once. New York. N.Y., under the act o! bflrch 8, 1818 DBOe,"b;;p;;;C; mmns at mpeclal rate of Dostwe Provlded for In aecuon 1103, ~ctof Occober S. 1017, authorlred Rates $4 00 n ycnr, Fore~gn$4 50, single coptes 50 cerllr Special- Libraries Vol. 16 April, 1925 No. 4
Tht. ctliturs of SPIZCIALLIRRARIES lave ~eceivedmany pleasing commcnts upon the new policy of the magazine. This month \re reclucstetl articles from executives, on the principle that we c:unllot properly function without knowing the ideas of those whon~\\Y serve. Wc haw made other changes this month. We present a ncw type font for the leading articles. We offer a new depart- ment: Science aid Technology, uilcler the editorship of Mr. A. A. Slol~ocl,assistant li\>rar.ian of the General Electric Com- pany's Main Library at Schenectady, N.Y. We are also devot- ing morc spacc to the Associations, printing a detailed account of thc Deccnnial Meeting of the New York Special Libraries Association. THE FUNCTION OF A SPECIAL BANK LIBRARY By Frederic H. Curtiss, Federal Reserve Agent, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston LTKRARY must always justify it- viduals are called upon to perform. A self by deinonstrating its necessity Here in Ncw England nearly every to [he incIividuaI dr to the comnunity for conlmunity (this is particulasly true of whosc bcnefit it is estal~lishecland main- h4assachusetts) has its public library, tained. This is doubly true in the case well equipped, ancl accessible after busi- of a spccial or "office" library in a busi- ness hours for use, and the person who ness organization toclay when every item seeks books for amusement or instruction of overhcacl cost is subject to the closest can readily find them in these public col- scrutiny, ancl inust be coilsiclered from lections. On the other hand, there are the standpoint of an efficient return on comparatively few technical libraries, or the money invested. In the case of an 111 public libraries collectioils of books on illclividual or a cowmunity the satisfac- teclmical subjects that are adequate or tion or plcasure \vhich a library may give up to date. Partly for this reason, there- is an important factor, but a busliless fore, ancl partly for reasons of greater library can only justify itsclf by adding accessibility, many of our large banlcs to thc success of the particular activity and corporations during the last decade in which that business is engaged. I do have installed collections covering certain not believe that it is any function of a li- business activities in which they are es- brary maintained by a business organiza- pecially interested, which are not ollly tion to furnish its executives or em- unusually completc, but are being con- ployees with books or periodicals othcr tinually added to. tlzan those that may contribute in a There are, however, but few libraries rather direct way to a more efficient per- dealing primarily .with financial subjects formance of the duties which such indi- that have been accessible to the public. 108 SPECIAL LIBRARIES April, rgag
That oi the late Senator Aldrich oi ~)rol.'lcms of the moment to I)e aide to Rhotle lslanc~, which now is stored in spare the time either in or out of wadi- l'roviclence, has Lcwn consitbxtd pob- ing 1iou1-s to read the enormous n~assof ably the most complete nr .tias colrnli~ material that is coming out almost every ii not in the world, nil the subkct of day, in book lorm, in pamphlets or in linance. But coIlccti.tnls uf b~olcs on magazine articles, :und in the daily Iiews- finance in our pul~liclil~raries are, gen- papers, but with respect to wliicl~ he c~-;tIIy spcaliil~g, rather inadequate ; the should l)e informed if he is to licep Congressional Lihrai-y in Wasllirlgton is abreast of the times. Indeed, so im- a nota1)lc exception, bul 13). virtue of its pwtant is this sul)jcct ot a competent very complctc~lcss.it is so large that it lil~rarianthat it should he givcn first con- is difficult to utilize escept im- the stu- sidci.ntion 1)). any 1)usiness organization dent who want to consult the rwcr I)OO~S in starting a special liln-ai-y for itself. I11 on finance. other words, a special 1il)ral-y \vIiich it is A tecllnical library, whether on fitlance cspcctcd will be a rcal asset to the or- or cotton, 01- any other commercial in- ganization 111ust 1)c something vcl-y MLIC~ dustry, need not be large to be of great inore than a mcl-c ~~ccumulntio~lof boolis, value to the csccutivcs or employees who p;unphlets and perioclicals. may be called upon to use it for their own particular line of activity, but it Library Functions should contain carefully chosen boolcs, (he of the illost importaut functions cad catalogs of other notable collections of the lib-aria11 oi the Feder;d 12escrve that are within reach on similar subiecls, lhllc of I3osto11 is the reading and rli- antl should, above all, contain such inattcr gcsting of articles appearing in period- as pai~~phlctsand reports that would not icals ant1 in the principal daily pnpc~-s. reach the shelves of the ortli~iarypublic Thc result is mimcograpllctl rund iur- lihrary because of their more or less nishcd to the oHiccrs and tlcparLmcn1 cphemeral interest to the general public 11catls in the iorm oi lrict' ~)aragi'";q)hs or their technical form of presentation. every clay, usually 1)y 11 A.M. antl While the use that is made of any li- usually on a single slicct so l11;1t it nlqr I~rarydcpeilds largcly upon the ability, I)c rc;~din a very few minutcs. l'crsoll- efficiency, and vision oi its liln-al-iatl, this ally. 1 havc ioul~tlthis daily ilc~vsslicet is doubly so in the case of a library in a most hc~lpful as it il-crlucntlj cor~taitls business organization. While the escc- items I have 11iiss~~(Iin a lit~rri~~lrcatl~ng utivcs of a b;~nk nay call up011 its li- of my mol-ning papc~-. I~raryfor material to be used in speeches, The 1il)r:u-y of the I;ctlc~-ill l States and, within that definition, to the anticipate the probable needs of the users Ncw England district. The banking his- of the library. Our ljburu is, further- tosy of the world is covercd in outline. moi-o, a cledrir@ Ifbusti iDr information. Thc history of banking in thc United I! beep~a.~acord.oTQe boolcs and other States ancl, more especially, in New Eng- materid p~scsspd.hv a11 the departments land is now represented by a large col- of the baii sa that inquiries made can lection of books and pamphlets which is be quickly routed on to the department being added to but with selective dis- best adapted to answer them, thus fre- crimination. Basic boolcs on economics, quently saving the labor and expense of statistics and other subjects allied to the collecting informatoin which has already work of the bank, and standard works been assembled somewhere. of reference supplement the strictly The libraries of the various banks in banking and financial material; and in Llie Federal Reserve System are in close addition to the material actually in our touch with each other. A monthly letter own library a reference file is kept up is sent out by each bank librarian in to date of sources of information in other duplicate to all ihe others which contains libraries or banking houses in the vicin- news of important work done or infor- ity that may be called upon in case of a mation sought for, often accompanied gap inethe library's own collection. This by bibliographies. With this letter goes latter feature is a special development a list of the important accessions to the of Lhe greatest importance and value, ob- library in the past month, both books viating the duplication on our shelves of and pampldets. Some libraries publish rare and sometimes expensive boolcs also a brief review of magazine articles; which it is only occasionally necessary this means that much valuable local ma- to consult. terial in the way of pamphlets and peri- Library Users odicals is brought to the attention of all The members of the staff of the sta- the Federal Reserve Bank libraries and tistical department are the most constant made available for minmon use. These users of the bank library, relying on it same letters are made the vehicle for re- ior current figures, for boolcs and peri- quests f& material wanted and carry of- odicals to answer the questions that arise fers of duplicate material for excl~ange, from day to day and for information as whilc each librarian sees that any inter- to new and significant articles and boolts esting publicalion of her own bank is along their line of work. This means sent to all the others. This acquaintance theoretically that the librarian and her between the librarians means also that assistant must have a working ltnowl- it is always easy for Boston to ask New edge of all material that comes to the Yorli or New Yorlc to ask Chicago for library so that they may know what book help in getting information that is easily is best for the type of material sought obtainable by one on the spot but dif- and also some idea of the authority be- ficult to come by if the original sources hind the printed statement. The library must bc sought out. Thus the Federal must keep in constant touch with the lieserve Bank library is a quicker and stream of new material and be competent more complete source of information to pick and choose among it by follow- than any other existing agency in the ing book reviews in periodicals and in 1)anlc could be. Information is its busi- publishers' lists. This choosing of per- ness without any bias toward any par- tinenl matter implies also the ability to ticular branch of informa t' Ion. I 10 SPECIAL LIBRARIES April, 1925 A STATISTICAL LIBRARY A NECESSITY A. Y Barmw. vice President. Standard Statistics Company I3 E service rendererl by the library of chine ready to be put into action at a T the Standard Sr~lsal~s,Ccanpahy is moment's notice. perhaps somewhat different from that The editors in our Trade Scrvice loolc rendered by most special libraries. Be- to the library for complete data on whiclz sides serving our own organization, it to base their analysis and forccasts. They lllust meet thc demands for information must have all the facts and tl-iese facts from thousands of our subscribers whose must be reliable and the very latest data interests run the range of the whole busi- available on whatever subjcct they may ness cycle. be interested in at this time. Our library staff worlis is in close The heads of our Statistical Railroad toucl-i with all of our departments, and is ant1 Investment L)epartinent leave it to the central polnt which collects, weeds the library to follow the finallcia1 history out and make available immediately the of railroads, public utility and industrial great inass of printed infortnation most companies and to keep it in such shape of which would otherwise be lost to our that it is absolutely up to the minute and executives. that no opinion, statcmcnt or rating will The sources fro111 whlch this informa- be. incorrect because tl-icy have not been tion is collectecl n-iust be authentic and supplied with the whole story. known to be reliable authorities in a par- The head of the Researcl~Department ticular field. calls on the library for long range and Knowing where to get information that current data on labor, wages, prices, is unquestionably accurate is perhaps the building, production, railroad earnings, greatest service rcndered to any firm by bank clearings and a hundred other items any librarian. entering into busihess and in which they In our organization the llbrary staff arc interested. They expect to find all watches for new literature, reports and the data past and present that they re- news items of interest in our particular quire to build thcir charts and graphs business. Those items of immediate im- and to help them reach their conclusions. portance al-e at oncc brought to the at- The Sales and Advertising Depart- tention of the person or persons inter- lncnts use the library as an aid in map- ested in thal particular thing. The rest ping out their campaigns. They can find is filed for refesence at a future time. out what parts of the country are en- joying prosperity at this time, what parts are having stnlces, in what sections crops Department Heads Use Library have failed, and whetl~era depression is All of our clcpartment heads co-operate nlcrely local or talccs in a wide section fully with the librai-y department. Our of the country. librai-y staff must know the eiltlre busi- In fact the Standard Statistics C0111- ness structure of the osganizatlon. They pany fully realizes the value of a library c nu st 1i110~what otl~crdepartments are department under the supcrvision of a doing, what their problenls are, and what librarian, and staff who know sources of they are likely to be in the future. It is infoi-mation and 'who will save endless only thru co-operation of this kind that time for clepartrnent heads by lcnowing a l~brarycan lw built into a periect ma- how to get cluickly what has appeared in April, 1925 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 111 print on any subject, who know when a special library might be either a lux- the available information on a subject ury or a necessity. Ours is a necessity. has heen exhausted, or who are able to We like to feel that it has the objective say definitely that nothing on a given so aptly put on the cover of the current matter has appeared. This last is often SPECIALLIBRARIES-~~T~~ Acquisition of as valuable as actually producing data. Essent~als,The Presentation of Truth; An esecutive I-ecently speaking about The Maxlmun~of Effort, The Minimum his firm's library made the retnarlc that of Delay." THE VALUE OF OUR LIBRARY By George A. Bland, Vice-president; Retail Credit Company OR fourteen years our library has and furnisl~them tips as to what to look F played a vital part in tlx develop- out for in nlaking reports to our cus- ment of the nlenibers of our organiza- tomers ancl, thereby, make our service tion and we feel that the results justify bctter ancl more efficient. Others are of its maintenance. educational value, such as biographies It is hard to measure in a concrete and boolcs of travel. way its value, but we can lay our hands In worl\ring out special propositions, on a few benetits. The library serves as on health, thrift, and vacations, the as a connecting link between our eighty- library is the source to which the one six Branch Offices, scattered tl~ruoutthe handling the work naturally turns and United States and Canada and even so he gets material aid from our infornia- far away as Honolulu, and our I-Iome tion file, from our books of reference and Office in Atlanta. That the managenlent from our standard works. If the ma- is willing to give this service to sucll a terial desired is not available on our own wide extent shows its value. Our people shelves, the librarian gets it from other appreciate this personal interest in their sources of information. welfare and development and not only It has been proved In almost every in- does it influence those already in our or- stance that a good reader lnalces a good ganization, but also those from the out- employee. I have in mind one who was side, as applicants often give our library with us when our library was organized. as one reason for their application to us. This reader has moved from position to Having a systclnatic basis for ciscu- position in our organization until he now lating our books, the readers plan their supervises the service in a nunlber of our reading, according to this schedule and 13ranch Offices in a given territory. We so learn to give a certain time to their feel that the consistent reading of this assignments each month-a habit once man added to his progress, and his in- fosmecl which sl~ouldbe of value to them. terest in the books gave us an insight Another benefit to the reader himself is into his ambition and desire for develop- that our boolcs serve to balance his men- ment. tal d~etand give him what he perhaps To sum up the value of our library, I would not get in his outside reading. should say that it was three-fold-to the Some of our boolcs are of technical seader who gains inspiration, ideas, and value, bearing upon insurance under- a broader vision; to our customers \dlo ~vriting and the consideration of rislcs receive I>etter service ; and to our organi- for the insurance companies. They con- zation in the incrcased efficiency of its tain information for our men in the field people. April, 192s USE OF THE LIBRARY BY THE By Dana M. Wood, Engineering Department, Stone and Webster, Inc. is rather amusing to be called upon the different methods of classification, change places with the librarian and cataloging, and filing with all their rarni- to be put in the position of being ex- fications. This would be a discussion of pected to "come through" with some kind tcchnical library problems with which of an answer to an inquiry. It is also most engineers are little familiar. If it interesting to know that a librarian can is a case of obtaining a report from the so phrase the question for discussion that library, discussion of the proper formu- it is just as broad and vaguc as the type lating of the question, technical require- of question that the enginecr frequently ments of library workers, personaIity asks of the library. I shall try to make problems and such like would result. my answer general and applicable to It is, therefore, necessary for me to callings other than engineering. further assume that gcneral constructive In beginning a discussion of this sub- comments on almost any of these ques- ject it is first necessary to assume that tions are desired, with particular refer- it was not intended to include the nor- ence to the specialized libraries now mal use of the library which all of us maintained by numerous engineering or- malie for recreational and educational ganizations and societies in Boston and purposes during our evening or holiday vicinity. hours at home. I assume rather that the intention was to confine the discussion to The Engineer and the Librarian the use of the library as an aid in the 110th the engineer and the library solution of some definite scientific prob- woi-lcer arc today apt to be specialists, lem under consideration,-how the engi- because each of the professions now ncer can obtain the most benefit from li- cover such a wide range of activities brary facilities available to him. Pre- that it is hopeless for one individual to sumably the gei~eralvicinity of Boston expect to bc expert in all branches of may also be inferred. Perhaps also it is his 01- her profession. Therefore, occa- fair to consider a slight modification in sional meetings which afford an oppor- the title so that it might read-"The tunity for discussion and exchange of use of the library to the engineer," as ideas, with the right lcincl of constructive well as "by the engincer." criticism on both sides, are to be recom- We must further differentiate between mendecl. As a corollary,' it seems to me the personal research in the library by desirable to have a standing committee the engineer and his request for a re- in each organization interested in co- port to bc submitted by the library operative library work, whose duty it workers on some given subject. In cases would be to study how to malie the par- of personal research by the engineer a ticular library facilities of that organiza- discussion as to his difficulties with tion most useful. The committee should sources of information and accessibility be coinposed of both library workers and of the actual data would be in order, engineers so that any recommendations which would include his experience with could be most effectively carried out. 'Address before Special Llbrarles Associat~on of Boston. November z.t, 1gr4. April, I925 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Occasional meetings between the com- back with a specific inquiry quite differ- mittees from several organizations might ent from his original. Of course, some well serve as a medium for the exchange investigations .must start along general of helpful ideas. lines in order to establish limits to the necause library facilities are an ad- final Study, but there are many instances junct to the organization, and offer a when a little preliminary effort would necessary and useful tool in professional save the library worker from going off work, the.engineer will, perhaps unjustly, on tangents, and would prevent subse- think of the library as in a subordinate quent and often times unjust criticism position,-which places it on the defen- as to the service received by the engineer. sive. You may occasionally hear criti- I suggest that it might be possible to cisms by the engineer, charges of incom- develop a card system which would in- petent and unsatisfactory service, when, vite the engineer to carefully write out as a matter of fact, the engineer ought his question before submitting it to the to be offering his assistance in improv- library for a reply. This would have ing that service instead of indulging in the advantage of assisting the engineer destructive criticism. to a clearer and more logical working out of the question which is bothering Educating Engineers him and would, in addition, serve as a Therefore, it seems to me that library pesmanent record in the libraly. I un- workers might well give thought to de- derstand that some libraries maintain a vising some plan for educating engineers Question Box in which they themselves to the advantages of co-operating in the record the questions asked and replies development of library facilities. Any- g'iven. It might also be advisable to have one would admit the value of the library an interchange between libraries of the if asked, but I refer to the task of ob- more important questions asked and taining constructive personal work on answers given. their part. Work leads to interest, and in- If the engineer desires to use the li- terest leads to support and participation. brary service personally, it is desirable This educational process should be diplo- that the library worker assist him in ob- matically accomplishecl, often times with- taining the specific data he is looking for out betraying the fact that it is being rather than to have that worker point done with a definite object in view. Per- out sources of information and catalogs haps the engineer might be induced to through which he l~imself must wade. blue-pencil articles or news items which Many an engineer becomes discouraged he thinks ought to be indexed. in the latter case because of the variety Several concrete suggestions occur to of sources of infornlation and the vary- me along these lines, the first of which ing classification systems used. Any perhaps may be called a direct criticism system which is thoroughly understood of the avcrage engineer himself. He by the library worker will ultimately should be induced to give sufficient study lead to the data wanted, but the worker to his problem so that he will lcnow what rather than the engineer should follow he wants to find out through the library. through the system to the ultimate goal Too frequently his inquily is vague and of finding helpful references. broad (as in the case of the subject given to me for discussion) and after consider- Classifications able tirnc and effort has been spent by There are so many classification and the library worker, the engineer comes filing systems in use today that a com- 114 SPECIAL LIBRARIES April, rgag nittee might well find a long term of his particulas specialties as well as facili- employment in working out one adapted tate his work of research in any library strictly to engineering. The task would to which he might have access. The li- be a tremendous one, however, and for brary worker, would thus be freed from that reason may be long postponed. The some of the "steering" now required. difficulty is that in large libraries cngi- The question has been asked me as to neering matters form only a small par- whetl~er1 thought that the library should tion of the whole and past efforts have have one or more workers trained along been along the lines of improving the engineering lines. I have not felt that engineering classification without disturb- this is necessary bccause the n~ajorityof ing the general classification and this questions referred to the library are of cannot be done. Witness for example two types : (1) either a general list of the attempts of the New Yorlc Board of references or some particular reference Water Supply and the University of 11- is desired pertaining to a subject under linois to adapt the Dewey Classification consideration; (2) the engineer is look- System to engineering, and yet the ing for an answer to a very specific and American Society of Civil Engineers has highly technical point which is bothering found it expedient to worlc out an en- him. In the first case the general worlcer tirely new system of their own. ordinarily submits a quite satisfactory I believe that the final answer to this answer, and in the second instance ody problem can only be found when enough the cngineer himself can tell whether he engineers of logical ways of thinking can has found what he wants, and to do this be brought together in the worlc, each to he must personally review a more or less classify his own specialties. In this lengthy list of references before he is manner a great range of subjects could satisfied. No library worker, even if be adequately subdivided. Librarians trained along general engineering lines, should then take these classifications and could expect to become highly special- weld them into a form which would meet ized along all lines as would be required the gencral library requirements. to meet the diversity of questions likely I hclieve that many engineers would to be submitted. be interested in such worlc if they felt that the attempts would ultimately lead Central Data File to a final classification which would be I have always been a warm, but so adapted to their own data files as well far losing advocate, of a central data file as to the libsasy. For example, I per- in the organization library. Engineel-s sonally have studied sevcral systems come and go in any organizat~oa,and if quite carefully, but have never yet found it is to be a permanent gainer from their one which was fully adapted to my employment, some lneans slio~~lclbe dc- nceds, and like many other engineers, vised of retaining the best results of their have accordingly developed a system of efforts in permanent form for the rcfer- my own which has been largely based ence of the engineers to come. An en- up011 that of the American Societ>r of terprising and capable engineer lnay Civil L:' ng' ineers. make a valuable research or compile im- Some common system which has been portant data of theory and experience. well cleveloped, when once understood, In most organizations, unless lie pre- would not only aid the engineer in filing sents the infornlation in a paper before his own data, but would also aid him a technical society or writes a book, in in logical reasoning along the lines of either of which cases it is an individual April, 1925 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 115 effort even if sanctionecl by the osganiza- siderably extended by the results of his tion, he takes away with him his fund of questionnaire, or suggestions not origin- information when he leaves. I have ad- ally en~anatingfsom thc first library re- vocated that all important matters of this search. The same questio~lariscs in an- lihd should be compiled by the engineer other organization, ant1 through the sys- ancl if it sceins desirable, edited by some tem of sponsorship, thc inquiry fronl the othcr individual 111 the organization and sccond library cotnes back to him. Where finally filed for the future use of new- is he going to draw the linc on the ser- comers in a properly classified data file. vice that he is to return to the outside The library would be the logical filing library ? There is involved t!lc question clepartinent for such material, although, of expense ancl time which he has de- of course, it probably would not be de- voted to the investiga~ionad to t11~fol- sirable to rclcase this information out- lowing up of the general questionnaire. side of the organization except in special Unclaubteclly he is in the position of be- cases. ing of valuable assistance to the sccond I am not "sold" on the idea of a spon- iilvestigator and might ultimately desire sor for consulting purposes in engineer- to charge for a report sulmittccl on the ing specialties except within a particular problem. organization. My reasons are, first, that Cataloging incliviclual libraries scelns the type of questions referred are too unwarrailtecl because of Ihc necessary apt to depart from the llbrary research lapse of time beforc the books can be idea and approach real consulting ser- nlatlc availal~lc,if aslccd for. On the vice; and secondly, that the tendency other hand, as in the Stone & Webster wo~lldbe to call upon the best lcnown organization, it would seem quite proper authorities so frequently that they would when an engineer has made purchases of soon desire to end the arrangement. It boolcs through the library for his own is rather difficult to tell just where to personal use, that a recorcl should be draw the line between co-operative ref- kept to the effect that he is thc owner erence work and consulting scrvice. and that the book could be called for in AS a specific illustration of this, let case of necessity. Such pud~asesmight mc take the subject of tishways. I will be consiclcred in some organizations to assume that it is desired to learn what relieve thc library from tllc necessity of operating experience has shown to be the acquiring the same volumes for their own limiting height of dam at which fishways shelvcs wl~enit is lcnown that someone have been proven successful. This qucs- in the organization could furnish them tion naturally involves the type of fish- if the need arose. way as well as the height of dam to which it is an adjunct. I will assume Specialized Libraries that the engineer in the process of his In discussing spccialized libraries work has done two things; that he has probably sponsored by a relatively few first made a general library research to large organizations, the considerable accuinulate references along these lines, number of scattered cngiaeers, not di- and that he has then written to a variety rectly affiliated, inus1 not be forgotten. of organizations, commissions, and others Instead of scattcretl specialized libraries, wlio might be expected to know more individual consulting engineers probably or less about the subject Out of it all lean largely on the centralized general or he has developed a good list of library society libraries and they ~voulclprobably references which has perhaps been con- favor collective library work at some 116 SPECIAL LIBRARIES April, 1905 central point. In other words, some en- the problem. To the general library gineers might well argue that illstead of worlter perhaps the first tl~ougl~tthat this having a number of stnall specialized li- question would suggest is that the pitling braries located in different parts of the is the result of elcctrolgsis in some form, city, it might be desirable to bring Illcin whereas in reality it is a result of some all together at one central point, main- error in the design of the shape of water Laining a group of morlcers in charge of wheel runner, in that it does 1101 exactly tach special~zedsection of the library. fit the hydraulic conditions undcr which Such a schcmc is, of course, out of the it must operate. Illdeed the exact cause q~~est~o~ihccausc of tl~cnlanncr in which of pitting has not been definitely settled. spec~allibraries originated. Each large The library worker might, thcrefore, organizatiun nccrls close at hand, readily wish to come hack at the cngiilcr and aslc available, 111~1-as).facilities. Because of "Do you want to know what are the the tl~vcrsltyin the \vork of these sev- causes of pitting?" eral large o~ganizatio~~s,their l!braries Therc ai-e other points connected with liavt. clcvclopecl along d~ffereiltlines and this subject which might or might not 1)ccomc spcci;~lizcd. Need, however, ire- occur to the library worlcer to inquire qumtly arlscs in evcsy organization for about which are as follows: special 1iI)rary fxcilities out of their ordi- Instances whcrc pitlccl runncrs have nary IIIW of \\~rli. Co-operative as- been rcpairecl. rangcmclits Iiave, thcrefore, been made Cilations of cases wherc pitting has so that wit11 llttlc lobs of time references occurred. call be ol)tained from some one of the References to corl-osion of mctals. outside lil~raries. Rcfercnces to aixdogous cascs of pit- It \voultl seem proper, however, to call ting, such as attention to tlic fact hta proper bal- (a) pitting of ship propcllers, alicc must I)c licpt between the two ideas sonletiines spolccn of as crosion of the ccull-alizecl 11l)rary (which is, of and sometinxs corrosion ; course, I:lrgdy covcrccl by our general (b) pitting of illlpellers of centri- 1il)rarivs) and thc small specialized li- f ugal pumps ; I)r;u ics. I f the latter are to functiorl (c) other cases like hydraulic ])ropcrly, tliv!. should llc very closely co- valves, steam pipcs, etc. ostlinatctl 1)y \\ or1;iiig agrea~~entsamong The engineer shoulcl have maclc his thc~ii~elvcsant1 \\rill1 the larger gclleral question Inore dctinite at the start, unless lll~l. 1em and a careful wortling of the ques- tion rcfcrrctl to the library; (3) the possiblc use of a card sys- tem for thcse questions ; (4) ,the tlcsirability of personal co- operation on tlic part oi the library \vorlicr tlurulg ally pel-snnal research by the ciiginccr ; ( 5 ) ilcctl ior an iniprovctl c1:lssilica- tion s! stcln adaptecl to cnginccri~ig sub- jccls; (6) thc possil)le ~nstallationoi a ccn- trnl (I:LI:L lilc s~~stenlin each organization ; (7) ilcetl for close co-ordinatiotl of Ll~cvai-ious libraries. In closing, pel-haps one othcr phase of the prol)lcm 1liig11t lx mcntiollccl which is 1,). no mc:uis at present ~roul~lesonie. Too ~pficir~rtlibrary service might havc the cifcct of stilling intlivitlual thinking and espcrimcnting, in favor of thc search of I~tcraturcfor precedents. 1 lilust also Summary admit that most of the critic~stzlof li- Surni~xlrizingthe suggestions made, I I~raryservice which I have heal-d among \vuukl call your attct~tion,thcrciol-c to cngincers lias I-csultccl iron their desire to ol)tain an answer to a highly technical (1) the \diic of niorc pcsiodic con- cl~iestion\vhich in reality was entirely up tact I)ct\vccn cnginccrs and lil~rarianslor to tlic111 to solve-that is, tlic cngineei- tlic l~urposc of discussing ~~~~~~~y scr- \\.as I)otlierctl to find a correct answer and vice, \\.as hoping against liopc that the Iihrary (2) the v;lluc of ctlucatini the en- tnight chance lit~done where he could ginc(-i-to clc;trcr c011ccption of his pro1)- not. RESEARCH AMONG TRADE ASSOCIATIONS 1-11: C1iaml)cr of Commerce of the preciated as at the present time. The T Unitccl States of America has re- pl-oblems of the recent war forced science centl!. publisliccl in the Department of aid its research activities to the front bTanufnctul-e, under tlie direction of E. in all the civilized countries of the world. W, McCullougll , manager, a valuable It is now realized by leading manufac- bulletin upon "Research Among Trade turers that scientific investigation is a Associations." The text of the bulletin necessary adjunct to efficient operation. follows : A utilization of the scientific knowledge The value of scientific research, both now available, and a sympathetic co- from an econonlic and an industrial operation in the free interchange of such standpoint, has never been so fully ap- information will lead to the adoptioil of r IS SPECIAL LIBRARIES Aprll, 1925 ~mpt-ovedt~~anufacturing processes and Gct~cral-When it relatcs to the me- do much to obviate thc dangers of ig- clianical methods used in produc- norant, destructive competition. The tion, distribution, etc., and the study realization of this fact is shown by the of non-technical and non-scientific 500 or more firnls now maintaining labo- ~roblemsof thc trade. ratorles for industrial research. An enumerat~onof the wide range of If there wcl-c 110 correlation of effort prol~lenlsthese associations are wor1;ing on research worli, much duplication on is not possible in a brief bulletin such might result. Thc logical solution, there- as this. Ilowcvcr, a few topics, picked fore, 1s to have the trade association 3t ra~~(Ion~,will SCSVC: 10 illustrate the im- make this correlation. This enables a l~ortanceof the subjects considcrcd: pooling oE rcsources to maintain a ccn- ,,lnrrricaiz Gas Associution tral laboratory to rencler service to a Research and tests to deternlinc larger group than is possible with only activity and capacity nf iron osicles individual laboratories. Another and for gas purilication purposes; and very inlportant factor, especially valuablc thc occurrence of s~~lphurcorn- in strengtl~ening trade associations, is pounds and their ren~ovalfrom il- that such centralized research work luininating gas. makes it possible for the stnall manufac- ilrrlcl-icai~Iirstitutc o/ Bakirzg turer, financially unable to support an in- L>rvelopment oi processes for better dividual laboratory, to profit from the utilization of lloitrs. Moulds in balc- investigations carrlcd on. cries-their soul-cc, varictics and Trade Associations Conducting prevention. Research Asphalt dssociution It is not surprising, therefore, that a Standardization of metl~oclsof test- continually increasing number of trade ing asphalt and asphalt paving mix- associations are realizing thc value of re- tures. search as one of their most constructive The tlcvclopmcnt of new uscs for activities. Of the 65 to 70 associations asphalt in paving and other \vorl<. now cngaged in this work to whom a re- Lol~t~drjlo.zc~tr~~r.vh'atioircrl rlssoclutiu~r cent inquiry was sent by the Department Cnusc fos the i;lilut-c of various of NIanufacture, 33 gave specific replies, tyl+of goods during laundry indicating that 8 were corlclucting their 1)roCc". rese:irch intlependently and 25 were act- AIagrrc.sia i~fssocicrfior~oj A mcrica ing in co-operation with some other Heat loss from barc surt'accs. aguicy. The gencral leaning is toward lnsulati~~gcficiency of 85 per ccnt 111c scientilic aspect of 1-csearch worli, as magnesia coverings at different tern- 19 are engaged esclusivcly in that class, pet-aturcs. 3 on general problems and 11 give atten- Nntioirol 1;crtiliso. ilssociatiot~ tion to both types of problems. 13tic1cncy of in1.m m:lcl~incr)r ill fcr- In classifying the natul-e of association tilizcr clistr~l)~~lion. rcscarch work, tl~et~rtns scielitific al~d hTafiotrtrl I-irrrc rlssociutioi~ gcncral have I)een user1 ivitll thc follo~\.- l seed to enable farmers to grow dollars is 1)eing saved aniiually through grades of Durum wheat most ac- rcscarch for iildustry in the Unitcd ceptable for manufacture. States alone.--It is not surprising to Refractories Mamrfncturers Associa- lean, therefore, that about $35,000,000 tion is being spent annually by American I-Iow mortars affect fire briclc manufacturers in the coilduct of labo- masonry. ratory research. No doubt, a like amount To what temperature must fire briclc is espenclecl in esperiniental and develop- burn ? ment worlc in the plants, that is, beyond Soar tlccl-n Pine Associatio~z the laboratory stage." Utilization of wood waste, its cost, No specific statement of thc cost of and pricc of by-products. this .work can be made, as it varies ac- Tankers' Coarlzcil of tlze U.S. A. cording to the lrincl and ainoutlt of the Relative valuc of curing hides with work undertalcen. Associations report- a salt solution and crystal salt. ing to us give as their appropriation amounts varylng from a few butldsed Co-operating Agencies clollars up lo over $100,000 ant~ually. In tl~csame manner that co-operation Whatcver the amount may be there is no of manufacturers through their associa- doubt but that it is amply repaid in tion prevents duplication, so does the co- bcnefits secured. operation of associations liltewise pre- The Department of hlanufactuse is venl unnecessary waste of effort. Thci-e convinced that scientific research is an are a large nuinbcr of technical and cstsemely important activity in which scientific agencies, both governilmltal trade associat~onsinay engage legally and and private, which welcome the active with great benefit to their lnembers and participation of trade associatioils in thcir tl~cpublic generally. We stand ready to I-esearch efforts. Only a few typical assist those associations desiring to un- cases can he mentioned here, such as ctci-lalie this work and the resources of Forcst Products Laboratory, Mellon In- the clepnrtiilenl are available to all those stitute of Industrial Research, Bureau of who ~+,li to lnakc use of thein. We in- hf ines, Bureau of Standards, University vite an espression OF your opinion and of Illiilois Eilgineering Experiment Sta- :HI opportuiiity to scrve you. tion, Institute of Inclustrial Rclsearcli and National Research Council. Tllcse are but a few of the 35 agcncies whicli we Child Welfare Library know ai-e already \vorliing on these pi-ob- Thc Eluabeth I\lcUormiclc hlcrnorial Fund lems, ancl tlierc are, cloubtless, a good (S& N, nearborrl St., Chicago), has placed many others, I)otli puhlic and private, its library at the disposal of healill and so- which have bccn cilgaged in rcsearcll for cial-service worlccrs ancl others interested in a number of years. child \vellare. Thc library, which is entirely tlevotccl to child-welfale srhjects, contains The Cost of Research scveral thousancl volumes as well as thc slan- dard periodicals. The assistance ol a traincd Probably few fields of association librarian may be securccl In gathering iogelher activity will produce greater ultimate rc- material for spccial study or research. A turns than research. The director of the i*nckagc loan scr\.ice is maintained, through hlellon Institute of Illdustrial Research I lich ccrlain pulrllcations may be obtained is authority for the statement that "some for n statcd time, the only expense being the one has cstimated that one-half billion cost of transportation IZO SPECIAL LIBRARIES April, 1925 THE WORLD BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT By James W. Wells, Biographical Department, New York World 1-1 lS tlcpartmcnt consists of 11,000,000 ford" it would be put in the "Stae-Stah-': T ncwspal~erclippings with numerous section. When thc "Staf-Stall- Misc." nmiuscrlpts and magaziilc biographies, cnvclope 1)ccomes .crowded all the clip- ctc. ?'l~cscarc lilcd in 255,000 envelopes, p111gs about persotls ~lailleclStafforcl are size 4J/ys9$ iilchcs, liept in 11,372 talicll out of this envrlope aid put in an runn:ng feet of open metal shelves. envelope ii~arlwl"Stafford. Misc.," and Slightly lcss t11an half of the total shelf on the outside oi thc "Staf-Stall-Misc." spacc is in a storeroom. Twelve per- envelope is marlied "Not including Staf- sons are cmployctl on three shifts. iord." This "Stafforcl. Misc." envelope Nc\vspapcrs :we gone over by readers is called a sul)section envelope and is \\*l~omalli what shall he saved and how IiclIt in the "Staf-Stah-" scction. ~t shall be classiticd. The date of publi- When the "Stal-Stall-" S13CTION be- cation is stamped on the face of cach coincs ci-owclerl all the Stafford envelopes clippiig antl, in [he case of Xc\v Yoi-l< and clippings arc taken out of the sec- C~typapers, the ilanie of the paper Irom tion and nlatle into a separate section \\.liic.h 11 is clippccl. with "Stafford" mai.l:ecl on the wooclen The collcctioil is divicled into two partition. This new section is kept clnsscs : Riugraphicnl and Miscellaneous. ahead or to the left of the old section ("Staf-Stall-"). The "Stafford. Rl~sc." Biographical envelope is talien out of the "Staf-Stah" The 1:iographical envelopes are ar- scction. r,lngctl in ;~lphnl~cticnlorder and divided When the "Stafforcl" section Ixcoines into sections. TIlc sections are kept cro~vcleclit is divided into a "Stafford. scpa~atcd I)y mcans of wooclcn parti- A-[-"section and a "Sta{fortl. J-Z-" scc- tlons which keep the envelopes in an up- tion Each letter of tl~calphabet is di- riglit position, like l)ool 111g to the subject. The larger subjects clippings. Having kept account of the are classified. number of clippings cut during the last The envelopes in a scction are ar- thirty years, the space to be allotted can ranged in alpllabe~ical order according be figure& very marly, to last just so to the title or, whenever possjble, in many years. When this space is filled, cl~roi~ologicalorder or accol-cling to throw out all the clippings dated before states aild countries--i c., the liilld, time a ce~tain date. The discarder merely or place. I11 tach ssectio~lthcse is a looks at the date on the clipping, not general envelope (called "Misc." like in using any discretion as to what shall be the Uiographical sections) which con- saved, An analysis of the calls, shows Lains clippings for which there are no about 90 per cent for the Biographical separate or special envelopes for that and 10 per cent for the Miscellaneous particular subject. Froin timc to time subjects. chppings are taliell out of the "Misc." envelope and a scparate envelope is Swampscott Conference inaclc. This is put in its proper alpha- betical place. If a subject is very large Hotel Rates a separate section is made and the clip- llouble liooms, 2 Reds, Private pings classified. I'lath ...... $7.00 Double Rooms, 2 Beds, 1 Cot, Growth and Discarding Private Ball1 ...... 6.75 Suite, 2 ROOIIIS,Rath Between, 4 Thc problem of growth has coine up Reds ...... 6.75 during the last thirty years, and from Double Rooms, 2 Beds, Running time to time more shelf space was acldecl. Water ...... 6.50 The shelf space in 1895 was 1200 run- Suite. 2 Rooms, Rat11 l3et~cen,4 ning feet, in 1905 had grown to 2600 I?ccls, 1 cot ...... 6.00 Suite, 2 Rooms, Bat11 Between, 4 feet and by 1915 Iiad I-cached 5757 feet. Reds, 2 Cots ...... 5.50 I'lans for reclucii~g and tllcn coniining Double Rooms, Doublc Reil, the size of thc collection \irere tried out. Running Water ...... 5.50 Tjlese were not practicable because they 1)oul)le lio0111~. 2 Beds, 1 Cot, Ruilning Water ...... 5.25 were based 011 the idea, so common in Suite, 2 Rooms, 13ath Retween, 4 newspaper offices, that some one pcrso~i Heck, 4 Cots ...... 5.00 -;I good, all-I-ound newspnpci-man" Cottage Rooms for 2 ...... 5.00 could sclcct what is worth saving and Single Room Rates on Application. discard the uscless. This discarding by Rates include Room and Board. sclcction, done by an expel-ienced nCws- paperman, was given a six-i~~oiltlls'trial For non-registered gucsts of the hotel, combinatjol~ tickets will be issued for and found to be too slow and costly. three meals, iaken in the same clay on The cliscarder's point of view was criii- the following hasis. $5.00-B realcfast, cised because he "liept a lot of junk" IJunclieon, D~nner; $4.0O--I~uncheoi1 and or else "threw out just what is wanted." ninnw; $3.00-Either Luncheon or Din- The discarder answered that "too many ner. Uniform service for all in main different persons want too many differ- Dining Room. ent things " A Special Blueplate Luncheon and With thcse experiences in miild, Tlic Illnncr in Tea Room, $1.00 each World decided to discard by date. Garage spacc in concrete fireproof garage, $l.OO per clay. Which, summed up, is: so inuch floor Make arrailgeillellts direct with space will hold so many suilning feet of The New Ocean Iiousc. Special Libraries L Editor Associate Editor HERBERT 0. BRIGHAM PROF. HENRY H. NORRIS State L~brary McGraw-Hill Co. Providence New York As Others See Us HE opinion of leaders in the business, financial and industrial world, insofar T as it relates to SPECIALLIBRARIES, is of interest to our readers and as this particular number reflects to a large degree, the opin~on of men of this type, it is worth while to print candid thoughts of executives. We often wish that men of this type would criticize us severely, showing us our shortcomings. Whether praise or censure, the librarian must adapt himself to business standards, business practices and business methods. He cannot offer the excuse that pressure of work can prevent certain accomplishment. He must first of all, to use a well known phrase of business, "deliver the goods." Advertising Support E again appeal to our subscribers to patronize our advertisers. The entire ad- W vertising space has been put upon a business basis with a fixed rate card and a regular advertismg contract which are sent to all prospectivc advertisers. With adequate advertising support we can make a better magazine. I1 any of our sub- scribers feel that a certain advertiscr in our field has overlooked this valuable medium, bring it to his attention and write us a letter stating your action. Do not put the entire burden upon the editor. * * * * * * "D.C.L.A. Doings," "For better library cooperation in Washington" is a newsy little sheet issued by the District of Colunlbia Library Assoc~ation. The editor's name is not given, but we suspect that Dorsey W. Hyde could give the proper information. ****** The Mo~~thlyLabor Revirw for January, 1925 carries a bibliography by Miss Laura A. Thompson, librarian of thc United States Department oi L,abor, under the title "Federal Control of Child Labor" and not "Women and Child I.abor," as stated in our March issue. 1: 4: 9: 4: + * There have recently been brought to our attention two vacancies in an im- portant business library in New York City. The positiolls involve technical train- ing and knowledge of cataloging. The salaries range from $130-$150 per month. Inquiries niay be made through the ed~tor. ****** It has been suggested that suhscsibers bind their volunles of SPECIALLI- BRARIES in periods covering four or five years and that for such periods the As- sociat~onprepare a five year index and title page. If the suggestion meets with approval we shall be glad to present the matter to the Executive Board. April, 1925 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 123 Swamp.-cott Conference OR the 16th annual convention of Special Libraries Association this year the F plan will be tried of cotnpressing the meetings. within three days. Moril- ings, afternoons and evenings will be utilized, giving nine periods for the several events. Two clistiilctly business meetings will be held, both in executive sessions. The thrce evenings will be devoted to general public sessions, and three periods -two afternoons and one forenoon-will be devoted to group meetings. One afternoon will be given up to an autonlobile outing. The dates arc June 24, 25 and 26, and the place is tl7e New Ocean House, Swampscott, Mass. Simultaneously the library clubs of New England will hold their midsummer meeting at the saine place, and while the library clubs of New Yorlc, Pennsylvania and New Jersey will not officially participate, it is expected that there will be a large number of librarians in attendance from those states. The tentative prograin for Special Libraries Association calls for a business session on Wednesday morning, June 24, at 9:30, with reports from officers and committees. It is also planned to hear brief reports from the local nssocia- tions and the several groups. The second business session will occur on Friday morning, June 26, at 9:30, and will be for the election of officers and appoint m~ntof corninittees as provided in the constitution, a thing which was not done at Saratoga. Group mectings are planned for Wednesday afternoon, Thursday morning and Friday afternoon. The automobile ride is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The first general session on Wednesday evening, will be a dinncr meeting. and the subject, "Revolution Through Research," will be discussed by two speakers, one repl-csenting business and the other industry. The second general session will deal with the subject of what the Special Library ineans to certain industries, while the third general session, which will he held in conjunction with the library clubs, will wincl up the convention on Friday evening. Special Libraries Association of Boston has appointed a local convention coininittee to co-operate with the program committee of S.L.A., which has already organized, held sevel-a1 meetings, and projected a number of plans. One is a tca for Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 Walter B. Briggs, Harvard College Library, is chairman of the local'coinmittee, with Mrs. Ruth M. Lane, M.I.T., secretary. Conmlittee chairmen have been appointed as follows : Entestainnlent, Mrs. Ruth &I. Lane; Exhibits, Octavius Applegate, Jr. ; Group Meetings, Miss Ethel 'Turner; Information, George V\7inthrop Lee; Publicity, Paul P.Foster; Trans- portation, Lewis A. Armistead. Subcorninittees of the Entertainment Committee, in charge of planned activities, include: Miss h4arion G. Eaton, Automobile TCicles; Frederick A Mooney, Dinner; Miss Elizabeth Downcs, Reception. The Advertising-Commercial-Industrial Group, Frederick A. Mooncy, chair- man, is arranging for group meetings covering three sessions. The Newspaper Group, Joseph F. Kwapil, chail-man, is also arranging for three mectlngs, and their progsain is well under way. The Technology Group, Francis E. Cady, Cleveland, chairman, is arranging for two meet~ngs. The hotel rates may be found on page 121 124 SPECIAL LIBRARIES April, 1ga5 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLGY A. A. Slobod, Department Editor Marmfacturers Record for December 11, Lists of broadcasting stations are also found 1924, appeared in two parts, the second of in thc radio magannes; a particularly good which is a large issue of six hundred and sixty list, rc\.ised monthly is give11 by the Wireless pages ent~tled: "The South Progress." It Age. carrles a considerable number of articles, An cxtcnsive directory of foreign and shig- many of them statistical in nature, on the board stations will be found in "Year-book agricultural, industrial and commercial prog- of \\'ireless Telegraphy and Telephony," 1923. ress and prospects of the Southern States. Another source of foreign stations is the "In- tcrnational Radio Com~nunication Call List," Thc annual report of Federal Trade Com- issuccl by the Internaiional Radio Telcgraphic miss~onfor the fiscal ycar endmg June 30, Co~nmission, Bernc, Swiizcrland. 1924, contains a list of the methods of com- petition condemned by the Commission. This The interest of the enginecring world has list of condemned commercial practices is also been aroused by the successful trials of the given in Prhters Ink for December 25, 1924, Flettner sailless ship. Below arc found a few pages 41-2, 44, 47-8, under the title "Taboo references to literature explaining the Mag- List of the Federal Trade Comm~ssion." nus principle which Mr. Flettner, a Itnown German erlglneer, appl~edto propelling ships "A National Residence Market Survey" is by Incans of sp~nningcylinders. the new title for the 5th edition of the manual Betz, A. "Customcrs LS. Population," compiled by the Magnus effekt. Zcits. Vcr. Deuts. Ing, v. Society for Electrical Development, Inc, 552 69, P 9-14. Jan. 3, 1925. Fifth Ave., New York C~tyIt givcs the elec- tric light and powcr plants In each state, and Flettncr, A. for each plant it enumcrates the population Flcttner rotor ship. Engineering, Lond. v. reached by it, number of wircd and unwired 119, p 117-20. Jan. 23, 1925. Abstract homes, total customers, per ceni o[ saturat~on translat~on of a paper read before the "Schiffbautcchniscl~cGcscllschaft." Flrtt~~cr'ssaillcss ship csplninrd. The Illl~strat~dOficial Joz~rtralof the Brit- An1 SOC.Nav. Engrs. Jour, v. 37, 11. 145-51). ish Patcut Ofice for November 26, 1924, gives Feb. 1925. A collection oE abstracts of on page V-XI1 Lhc text the new Russian articles in arious pcr~oclicals Patent, Law. Accorcling to the Journal, the text is a "correct translati011 from the IZussian Hoelling, J H. and Flamm, 0. and is supplied hy the Comnlerc~alInforma- New harncss for the wind. Living Age tion Department of the Russ~anTrade Dele- v. 324, p. 7-10. Jan. 3, 1925. gation, (In London), from whom copies and Rcitl, E. G. other information may be obtainccl." Tcsts oi rotating cylinders. 1924. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, How do I ~clent~fya radio station when Washington, D C. give11 its call slgnal or name of its owncr? Fletiner's sailless sh~pexplained. The following publications are useful in an- Powcr V. 60, p 10j4-56. DCC.30, 1924. swering ~nquiriesof this nature. Magnus effcct. L'n~ted Staks Na~yqntion Bureau ol Com- Engineer, Lond. v. 138, p. 636. Dcc. 5, 1921 mercial and go~crnment rat110 stations of the LTnltcd States. June 30, 1924. The combined lncrcury \ apor and stcam IJnited States Navigation, Bureau of Amateur plant designed by W L. R. Emmett, Consult- radio stations of the United Statcs. June 30, ing Engineer of the General Electric Co., is. 1924. SLIJ)~.of DOC.25c out of the exper~mentalstage, and a 6,mo-11p. 'For any addittons and changes since July unit is in operation as part of the cquipment I, 1924 consult the Rodio Service Bdlett~r, of the Hartford Electric Company. For thc issued monthly. underlying p~inciples,and, the thermodynamics. April, 1ga5 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 125. of this plant consult the following important Frith, J, and Buckingham, P. papers : Vibration in engineering. 1924. Macdonald ~nllllccc,W. L R. and Evatls, London. Includes a bibliog- Emmett mercury-vapor process. Mcch. raphy. Engng. v. 46, p. 235-40, 305. May, 1924. Holzer, 1-1. Scc also a special rcprint issued by the Bcrcchtlung der drchschwingu~lgcnund ihre Am. Soc. Mcch. Engrs. which contains anwendung ir~maschinenbau. 1921. Spring- ail appendix by L. A. Sheldon on "Prop- ci-. Berl~n, erties of mercury vapor." Hort, W. Grccne, A. K., Jr. Tcchnische schwingungslchrc. Ecl. 2, enl. 131nai-y cycles using mercury and steam. 1922. Springcr. Berlin. Includes a bibliog- Mech. Engng. v. 46, p. 1~2-44.Mar., 1924. raphy. Kearlon, W. J. Mainka, C. Possibilities of mercury as a worlcing sub- Instrumcnte fiir die bcobachlling von stance for binary fluid turbmes. Inst. crschulleriingen Ze~ls f. Tech. Physilc., Mech. Engrs., No. 5, p. 895-976, 1923; v. 3, p. 248-40 Nov. 7, 1922. List of 33 Engng., Lond. v. 116, p. 663-67, 696-97. entries, on ~nstrunicnts for observation Nov. 23-30, 1923. Condensed. of vibrations accompanying a paper on [he Etnmett, W. L. R. same subjecl. Power from mercury vapor. .\m. Inst. Elec. Engrs. Proc. v. 33, pt. I, p. 473-89. Thcorie der schu~telscl~w~ngnnget~~uld nn- 1914. tersuchung dcr scl~ilttclcrschcinui~genvon clektrischcn lolcomotiven mil l>arallcl- For popular and descriplivc articles see: kurbelgctrichen. 1924. V D. I. Berlin. Aera. v. 12, p. 916-20. Jan., 1924. Automoiive Ind. v. 50, p. 20-21. Jan. 3, 1924. Engr., Lond. v. 137, p. 65-68. Jan. 18, 1924. Membership Committee Srcch. Engng v. 46, p. 91-93. Feb., 1924. The Membership Cornmiltee, Lcwis A. Sci. Am. 17. 130, p. 80-81. Feb., 1924. Locomotive. v. 35, p. 70-75 July, 1924. Armislcncl, chai~me~~,has rccently issued a scrics of leaflcts for publicity puiposcs. Leaf- Powcr. v 58, p. 878-80. Dec. 4, 1923. Elcc. Wid. v 82, 1). 748. Oct 13, 1923. Iel No. I is cntitlcd "Special Libralics Asso- Travclcrs' Standard. v. rr, p. 95-102. May, ciation, 11s Beginnings and 11s tlchicve~~icnt~," a reprint from I\[iss Kchccca Kankin's article 1923. in lie ScpLc~i~bcrissue 01 SPECIALLINR.\RIES Power. v 55, p. 136-37. Jan. 4, 1922. Power. v. 52, p. 167-68 Aug. 3, 1920. Leaflet No, a is callcd "Organizing ~hc G. E. Rev. v. 17, p 99-103. Feb., 1914. Ncw\papcr Group," prcparctl Ly Arks hgncs J. Pcicrscn, librarian oC lhc M~lzan~~lzcc.Toll,-- Accurate ~nforniaLionon the question of vi- jral. OLhcr lcaflcts arc in preparat~on. Thc brations in machincry and slruclures and Con~tniltcchas rcccn~ly distributcd to a sc- rnclhods ol their prevention is of great valuc lcctctl group of nlcn and wolnell an i~lvitalio~i LO Lhc engineer, architect and builder. Sev- to join Lhc !\ssoc~alior~and we arc inlorn~ctl cral kx~shave recently appearctl on this sub- thal responses havc becn very gralilying. ject: T11c IcaIlcls rcllcct cons~tler;tblcCI cdit npnn Dory, I. the Coniniit~cc. 1Ir. Lcwis A. Armislcncl, Schuttelerschcinungcn elclctrischcr lokomo- chairmnn, will wclconlc suggestio~lslor Tulul-c- tivcn mit Iturbelantricb. 1923. Vieweg publication. Braunschweig. Duffing, G. Technology Croup Erzwungcne schwingungcn bei verander- Acting on a petition signed by members of licher eigenfrequenz und ihre teclmische Special Libraries Association connected with, bedcuiung 1918 Vleweg. Bia~~nschweig. technology libraries, the Executive Board of Eason. A. B. Special Libraries Associalion has created the Prevention of vibralion and noise. 1923. Technology Group, It is expected that thc Frowde and Hodder. London. Includes group w,ill shortly perfect ~tsorgatlizatiol~ an& an extensive bibliography. begin an active campaign for new members. Ia6 SPECIAL LIBRARIES April, 1925 DECENNIAL OF NEW YORK SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION The February meeting was called an an- since our October rneetmg, and our member- niversary meeting, thought not that by actual ship is now well ovcr three hundred. date. During 1924 N.Y.S L.A. completed ten During the first years of the Association years of ~tsexistence, a sufficicnt time to Stop meetings were held at the close of the busi- and take stock of what the association has ncss clay or in thc evening, at various financial meant not only to its mcmbers, but also the and industrial houses, and because of the new- business houses and organizat~onswhose li- ness of thc profession wcre devoted princi- brarians comprise our membcrsh~p Dinner pally to thc discussion of methods of hand- was held at Schrafft's, 181 Broadway, at 6:15 ling the different kitids of collcctions and p m., February 17. data Such top~cswere discussed as "Finan- Among the lormer presidents who were cial Value of Special Lihraries," "How Can present wcre Dr. C. C. Williamson, our first Local Libraries hfost Effectively Aid Each president, and MISS Elizabeth Dobbins, Miss Other," "A Union List of Periodicals," "Pub- Rebecca Rank~nand Miss Juliet Handerson. licity Problem in Financial Librar~cs,""Lend- Mr. Dorsey W Ilyde and Mrs Frances Cox mg iVater~al,""Indexing and Handling Com- Cherry were unable to be present, but sent mercial Files " These topics show also that greetings. from the first the Association has been in- The program wab arranged chronologically terested in co-operation. and the following items of interest have been With the gradual increase in membership taken from the Association records. covering a widcr lange ol territory in various The New York Special Libraries Associa- directions In thc city, the cl~nner mceting t~onhcld its first mecLing in May ol 1914at seemed a happy solution of thc getting to- the Municipal liefcrence Library. Dr. Wil- gethcr problem, and for the past few years liamson, who is with us this evening, acting has proved succcssful. Rcside having spcak- as cha~rmancalled thc meeting to order, and ers from our own Association at these mcet- there were fifty-two prcsent. mgs, we have been fortunate in having men Among the iirms and inst~tut~onsrepre- ~rominent in our civ~c and cconomic life sentcd were Municipal Reference Lib1 ary ; which have given us points of contact from Anler~canBankers Assoc~at~on; Melropol~tan the outside. Museum of Art; Federal Reservc Bank; Guar- During war timc our association contrib- anty Trust Co. ; h!Iercharits Associat~on; Wcst- uted $IO,ZIO to the War Scrvice Fund of the ern Electr~cCo.; Metropolitan Life Insurance American L~braryAssoc~ation, no small sum Co.; Amencan Society of Civil Enginers; from a comparalively small group of people. Columbia University, Science, Engineering and Our Association is divided into a number Law Dcparttnent ; White & Kemble ; College of groups such as Accounting, Advcrtismg, of Physicians and Surgeons, Rockefeller In- Chemical, Publlc Health, Insurance, Scicntific, stitute; National City Bank and American Tcchnical, Legal, Religious and Public Utili- Telephone and Telegraph Co. They arc stdl ties, each group having a chairman appointed on our membership I~st,and in many mstanccs yearly who keeps posted on affairs within her we have a half dozen or more assistants irom particular provincc and assists in disscminat- a number of them. These names are all mg information concerling her subject. familiar to us and it is apparent that from the That the Special Library is a vital part of very filst, Specla1 Librar~eshas been ~dentificd the ~ndustrial and financial life of our city with a varied and interesting group of libra- is proved by thc fact that morc than I75 ries coverlng the ficlds cf finance-banking, en- firms on our mernbcrship list, maintain Iibra- glneering, law, scicnce, medicine, public utili- rlcs. Our iuturc growth, both in quality and ties, to mention just a few. One-third 01 the quantity depends on the co-operation and sup- original number haw ~enewedtheir member- port of each member, as wc are limited only shlp from year to year. by the progress of the industrial and scien- We have added forty-one ncw members tilic world April, 1925 SPECIAL LIBRARIES I27 Dr. L\'dliamson, thc first spcakcr, thinking D. Ailtenhead bad thc developrncnt of the li- wc wcrc taking ourselves too seriously for b~.arybeen possible. "The I~brarywhich MISS ;~ninrant of ten years, introduced a vcin of Ailtenhead has made a vital force in our or- humor in his talk, ancl said if it were 1965 ganization is unique and invaluable in ~tsser- inscntl oi rcpj hc might bc able to recall wes, not only to ow New York office but to solnc lormcr accomplishmcnts, and ten years our men scattered througl~out the country." hencc, that there was such an associalion as In paying tribute to one librarian and her th'c N.Y S.LA. Howcvcr, he was able to re- wo~lc, hh. Fogler indirectly congratulated call some of thc ~ntcrcst~ngbeginnings, one otlicr women librarians on the real way in in pnrticular hcmg thc cxhibit oi forms and which thcy had made their librarics as essen- gu~tlcs u~etlby spccial libraries in thc city, Lial par1 of the organizations to which they wl~icli was lccpt at he hlunicipal lielerence bclong. Library whcre el ely one interested could con- Messages from Mr. M'. ltandolph Burgess, sult it. Aim Rankin brought out 111 her talk assistant Fcdcral l Upon motion of hlr, H. H. B. Meyer it the new Frec Library buildmg on the Park- was "Rcsolvccl that thc Districl of Columbia way, which is fast nearing completion, and Lib~aryAssociat~on express its high apprccia- will be ready for use during the summer of tion of the work the retiring president, Mr. this year. Miles 0 Price, has donc as chairn~anand MI. Price also gave a detailed account of menlbcr of the several con~mitteeshaving un- the A.L.A. travel plans for the Seattle Con- der consideration mattcrs relating especially to ference. problcms 01 allocation, from which thc mem- The Council has been invited to hold its bers of thc District of Columbia Library As- March nleet~ngin the library of the Phila- sociation and all othcr lhrarians as well have delphia Electric Company. been lcnefited." Up011 motion of hlr. Dorsey W. Hycle, Jr., the meeting also voted an ex- An inte~csting afternoon meeting of the pression of its apprccialion of thc unLiring Co~fncilwas held in the library of the Phila- efforts of Miss Emma V. Baldwm in the in- clclph~aElectric Company on March 6 We Lerest of improved facilities for post gradu- wcrc receivcd and welcomed by Miss Taylor, ate training in library science in Washmgton t11c I~brarian,and the chairman of the Library ancl elscwhcre. Committee. Miss Taylor spolte of the work The report of the 1925 Committee on Nomi- of thc library and l~crsonally concluctccl a nations, Dr. George F. Bowerman, chairman, tour of inspeclion. was rcad ancl the lollowing ofiicers wcre duly elcclcd : Miss Clara W. Herbert, president ; Pittsburgh Mr. CIarence W. Perley, vice-pres~dent; Miss Robina Hac, secretary; Miss Sara Abbott, The Pittsburgh Special Librar~esAssoc~a- treasurer; Miss Isabel Du Bois, Miss Emma tion held its regular monthly mecling in the I3. Iiamks, and Mr. John D. Wolcott, execu- Allegheny County Law Library, Thursday tive comtnittce cvenlng, Feb~uary19. A "regular old-fash- ioned" Round Table on Cataloging was intro- Philadelphia cluced by Mrs. Blanche I<. S. Wappat, libra- The Fcbruary mceting of the Specla1 Li- rian of the Carneg~eImtitute of Technology. Miss Emma E. Kinne, cataloger of the Uni- braries Council of Philadelphia and vicinily versity of Pittsburgh Library, described the was held on Friday, thc sixth, at the Phila- delphia Chamber of Colnn~erccBuilding. methods used In the rcorganization and con- The mcetmg was in the forin of a round solidation ol the catalog of th~sinstitution. table cliscussion, the iop~c"Now My Problem MISSMary Lynch spolte about thc catalog of Is This." thc P~ttsburghAcademy of Medicme and the Lively discussion followecl the introduction use of Library of Congress cards in connec- tion with it. Ah-. J. Oscar Emrich, librarian ol the problcm, classification and cataloging ol the special liljra~y,by Miss E. Mac Taylor, ol the Allegheny County Law Library de- librarmn ol the Philadelphia Electric Company scribed its catalog which has becn developed by h~mover a pcriocl of setenteen years with Library, with a description of thc methods uscd in her library. his own classification and scheme of headings based on the American Digest system which Mrs. Faltermayer, l~brarian of the Phila- matte the catalog a practical and everyday delphia IPapicl Transit Company Library, in speaking of her problen~s,referred to the con- working tool of the legal clientele of this library. stant need ol certain laws and ordinances con- *l** cerning Philadelphia, and oi thc lack of up- to-dale indexes of same hlIiss GI-uner of Mr. C. TeRt Hewitt, Chief of the Order the Philadelphia Bureau of hlunicipal Re- 13epa1tment of the Carnegie Library of Pitts- search, at this point, told of the forthcoming burgh spolte hefore the Pittsburgh Special Li- publication of an index of Philadelphia Or- brarlcs Association on the "Acquisition of dinances from 1789 to datc, which'hlr. Shen- Mater~alin Libraries" at the regular monthly Lon of the Bureau of Municipal Research has meeting held in the Alleghcny Cou~~tyLaw recently completed, and which, it is expected, Library, kIarch 19th. will be available in printed form in thc early spring. The Association were the guests of the Ah. Franlclin H. I'rlcc of Thc Free Library 1-1. J. Hcinz Company at luncheon and tour of Philaclclphia, gave an interesting talk on of the plant, Thursday, March 26th. 130 SPECIAL LIBRARIES April, 1925 EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONS Miss Rebecca B. Rankin, Department Editor "Aquafax" is the house organ of Neptune common business sense, and the use to which Meter Company, 50 East 42d Street, New libraries are put by many concerns makes it York City; often it contains informative a convincing article. articles useful to libraries in public utility American Electric Railway Association, 8 companies. West Portielh Street, New York City, pub- MI-, J. Oscar Emrich, Librarian of the Alle- lishes from time to time useful compilations gheny County Law Library, has been appointed on wages, Bulletin No. 7 recently issucd is de- a member of the Executive Committee of the voted to "Trend of Wages of Electric Rail- Pittsburgh S L A. to succecd Miss Adeline way Trainmen, 1914-1916; maximum hourly Macrum, resigned. wage rate paid trainmen and number of years servlce required to reach maximum rate, in- The National Industrial Conference Board formation as ol February, 1925." issues each quarter a class~fied list of "Re- cent Accessions to the Libraryu-No. 15. No better or briefer summary of legisla- October, 1924 to January, 1925 is the latest. tion can be found than that contained in City- Industrial ltbraries may find this useful as State-Nation-a publication issued every a check71ist. other week from January to June, and month- The Financial Advertisers' Association ly during the rest of the ycar, from its office Bdletitt for February, 1925 (pages 129-30- at 280 Broadway, New York City, Room 415. no volume number g~vcn),contains an article It covers the Congress, New York State Leg- on "How One Bank Is Encouraging Financial islature and New York City Boards. Special Research,'' by William J. Kelly, assistant vice- librarians and business men will save time in president of the Chicago Trust Company. reading it. The Filing Association of New York is pub- Smithsonian Institution's Study of Natural lishing an official organ, known as The File. Resources, Publication 2820, is devoted to Each number carries one main article on fil- "Niagara Falls: its power possibilities and ing or fillng methods, news of the association preservation," by Samuel S. Wyer-and Sir and personal news of its members, and spicy Adam Beck's refutation of certain statements editorials in the ed~tor's friendly style. concerning the Hydro-Electric Power Com- The "Port of London" is a tnnst attractive mission of Ontario made'in Mr. Wyer's Study, pamphlet on the acconq~lishmentsof the Port are both pamphlets that will interest technical of London Authority-it is fully descriptive libraries. and well illustrated. These British publica- The Allied Arch~tectsAssociation have re- tions are easily secured through the British cently opened a special library In their rooms Library of Information, 44 Whitehall Street, in the Citlzcns National Bank Building, LOS New York City. Angelcs. The chairman of the committee in Miss Emily L. Day, Miss Katherine Jacobs charge of the library is David J. Witmer. and hhss Margaret T. Olcott of the Bureau More than a thousand volumes relating to art of Agriculture Economics Library are joint and arch~tecturehave been acquired by the authors of a bibliography on "Marketing of library through g~ftsand purchases. Con- Agricultural Products" which won honorable tributions have been received from the Los n~ent~onin the Oberly Memorial Prize Con- Angeles Public Library, Boston Public Li- test and thc Department of Agriculture 1s brary, Columbia University, Massachusetts printing their work in ?14iscellaneous Circular Institute of Technology and other institutions. No. 35. It is the intention of the association to make the library one of the best of its k~nd&I the The March, 1925, issue of Business, pub- country. It wlll be ava~lablenot only to mem- lished by the Burroughs Adding Machine bers of the association, but to all students of Company, contains an illustrated article on art and architecture, and to any resident of "A Shelf-full of Books," by George W. Gray the clty inlerestcd in civic work, art or archi- (pages 10-12, Q.) His thesis is based on good tecture. April, 1925 SPECIAL LIBRARIES PEESONAL NOTES Miss Margaret Wells, Department Editor Miss Helen A. Sweeney is now librarian of Nlss Charlotte C. Naycs has res~gnedas h- Naskins & Sells, New York City. blw~anof E. I. du Pont de Nemours Sr Co., Miss Hclen Van Nostrand formerly libra- Wilmington, Dclawal-c, to join the Gilchrist rian of the Chasc National Bank of New Company, Chicago, Illmois. Miss Koycs was York, is now with the Amcrican Telephone a mcmber 01 Si~nmoilsclass 1911;spent sev- and Telegraph Company. eral years in the New York Public Library; was editor of Irtdr~sirialArts Irrder. Miss Edith Baxter has been appointed li- brarian of the American Bankcrs' Associalion X very inlcresti~lgand hely artlcle entjtletl Library, instcad of assistant librarian, as "All or None," by Ella hiillcr Gcnung, lihra- stated in our February issue. rian at Speyer & Co., New York City, appears Mrs. Eva Thayer Shively, formerly of in the February, 1925 The File. The central- Pittsburgh, is librarian of the Bureau of Home ization of thc library and files-all sources 01 Economics of the Department of Agriculture, information for the making and transaction of Washington, D.C. business-is described by Miss Genung. Miss Josephine Curry, formerly of the Legal Miss Adeline Macrum, librarian of Tuber- Library of the American Telephone and Tele- culosis League of Pittsburgh has resigned graph Company, New York City, on Marc11 f ram the Executive Committee. MISSMacrum I, became I~brarianof Iiednlond & Comlmny, has bcen a devoted member of Pittsburgh In\,cstment Bankers, New Yorlc City. Special Libra~ies,having been, indccd, instru- ~nenlalln its organization. The members all Miss Esther Wright, fornlerly of the Li- rcgret that more piessing dutm compel her brary of Lazard Frcres (Bankers) New York to withdraw for the present. Gty, will on April r join the Rockefeller Foundation, Ncw York City. She will be in Xliss Helen Green has recently come to the charge 01 its library. lib~aryof thc Research Department serving the F~rstNational Bank, thc Pacific South- Miss Rheta Hays of Albany, Oregon, who west Trust and Savings Company and the First 1924 was a member 01 the class at the 12lver- Sccuritics Company, Miss Greene is an as- side Library Service School, has resigned sislaut to Miss Alicc Scheclc, who is president from her position in the Albany Library to of the Special Libraries Associatioti of South- marry Mr. George Bowersox. ern Calilornia. The late Dr. E. 13. Downey, In the preface Miss Bertha Stevens McEwen, Iornlcrly of of his book "Wo~knen'sCompensation" pays Union Cornmcrce and the Federal Reserve a tribute to hbrarianship In the credit given 13a1ilc of Cleveland, Ohio, has rccently taken to Miss Josephine B. Carson, for the prepara- cl~argeof the library in the Research Depart- tion of the bibliography and her aid in ref- ment OL the Secur~tyTrust & Savlngs Bank, erence work. vacated 11y the rcs~gnationof Mrs. Vivian G. Miss Margaret Reynolds, librarian of the Sm~th. Miss McEwen is a graduate of Pratt First Wisconsin National Bank, Milwaukee, Institute and has been more recently con- has been elected a director ol: the Y.W.C.A. ~lcctcdwith thc Clcvcland I-Ieigbts Public Li- This is the iirst time that there has ever brary. been a business or professional woman on the Joseph P. Kmapd, librarian of the Pctblic Board of the local Y.W. Ledger, Pl~~ladelphia,and cha~rman of the Dr. Arthur E. Bostwick, librarian of the St. Newspaper Group of Special Libraries Asso- Louis Public Library, has recently sailed for ciation, visited Boston last week, made the China from Seattle. He goes as a delegate of the American Library Association, upon round of all newspaper l~brarics,and visltcd the invitat~onof the Chinese National Asso- many of thc notable libralies in Boston and ciation for thc Advancement of Education, to Cambridge. 011 Thursday cw~ing,February confer with Chmesc educators and public of- 26, he was entertained at dinner at the Bos- ficials concerning the public l~brarymovcmcnt ton City Club by the Boston members of the in China. Newspaper Group. Pages 133-236 deleted, advertising.